Ruthless King (New Orleans Malones #4)

Chapter 48

48

J illy was so nervous.

She’d changed her outfit about a thousand times.

Finally, she’d settled on a blue blazer, white shirt, and black pants. She looked smart and sophisticated.

She hoped.

She also hoped she wouldn’t spill any food on her white shirt. Maybe she should wear a black one. She turned away from the mirror and headed toward the closet.

“Freeze.”

Jilly paused at the command.

“Where are you going?” Regent asked as he walked into the room.

“I just want to change this outfit again.”

“You are not changing again.” He walked over to her, cupping her face with his hands. “I told you that you don’t have to be nervous. Everyone loves you.”

She wasn’t so sure about that. And it didn’t matter if Regent told her not to be nervous. “I haven’t met your sister and her men yet. Well, not properly.” Sure, she’d seen them when they’d had to use the tunnels. But she hadn’t really met them.

They were arriving soon from New York and she was beyond worried.

Lottie meant everything to Regent. What if his sister didn’t like her? Would he reject Jilly?

“Okay. Deep breaths. I don’t like seeing you like this, so you’re going to stop immediately.”

Jilly had to roll her eyes. “You can’t just tell me to stop being nervous, you know.”

“Of course I can. I just did.”

“Okay, let me rephrase. You can’t command me and expect it to happen! Nerves don’t work that way. Of course I’m going to be nervous. This is your family. I want them to like me. I haven’t even met some of them yet.”

“Then mission accomplished because they already like you.” Reaching out, he pulled her into his chest. “How could anyone not like you?”

“Easily. Ask my father.”

He rubbed his hand up and down her back. “That had nothing to do with you. And everything to do with that asshole. Stop worrying. Everything will be fine. I promise.”

Right. Sure. Uh-huh.

Pulling back, she straightened her clothes and checked her hair and face one last time.

She looked presentable. She hoped.

Taking the hand he held out, she let him lead her out of the bedroom and downstairs. Jilly heard the front door open as they got to the bottom of the stairs. There was a squeal as someone raced toward them.

Regent stepped forward and caught his sister as she launched herself at him. “Reggie!”

“Darling,” he murmured, hugging her tight. “You’re here.”

“I’ve missed you so much,” Lottie told him, clinging to him.

Jilly watched on, feeling out of place. Perhaps she should just leave?

But then Liam walked into the hallway. He was built like a tank. His white-blond hair and ice-blue eyes gave him an almost angelic appearance. But she had the feeling he was anything but. Behind him was Nico. He was slightly shorter than the other man. With tattoos on his arms and up his neck.

He had this sexy, bad boy rock star look about him. Glancing over at her, he winked. She felt herself blush.

Yikes.

The full effect of Nico hadn’t hit her like this last time.

“Lottie! What do you think you’re doing, running off like that?” Liam snapped.

Immediately, Regent put his sister behind him and stepped forward. “Do not talk to my sister like that!”

“Your sister has trouble listening,” Liam said back with a scowl. “She’s been burning the candle at both ends lately and she needs to rest. Which includes not running around, eating properly, and going to bed at a reasonable hour.”

“A reasonable hour!” Lottie complained. “You tried to put me to bed at five last night!”

Liam crossed his arms over his chest. “You’ve got bags under your eyes, and you’ve been so tired you’ve been falling asleep over your dinner.”

“Is that true?” Regent demanded, turning to his sister.

“Pfft, he’s exaggerating.” Lottie waved a hand through the air.

“No, he’s not,” Nico said.

“Nico!” Lottie said, looking betrayed. “You’re supposed to be on my side!”

“I am. You need to rest.”

“You’re both ganging up on me. Make them stop, Reggie.” Lottie gave her brother a pleading look.

But he simply grasped hold of her chin, tilting her face back. “You need a nap.”

“Urgh!”

Jilly attempted to step away, figuring she wasn’t needed for this. Nico sent her a curious look as she headed toward the stairs. To her surprise, he shook his head at her.

“I don’t need a nap. I came to spend time with you and the rest of the family. Are they here yet?” Lottie asked.

“If they were here, it would be a lot noisier,” Regent said.

As if on cue, the front door opened and Ace and Keir barreled inside.

“Lottie!” they cried.

Ace threw himself at her. Regent had to grab her to stop her from falling. Everyone surrounded Lottie and her men. Thea, Jardin, and Carrick soon arrived. Carrick was striking, with his muscular frame and piercing blue eyes. They were followed by Maxim and Aston, a gorgeous woman with blonde hair and a friendly smile.

Then Gracen and Victor were last. Gracen was curvy but petite. Her white-blonde hair was pulled back from her face in a ponytail.

Jilly kept walking back. She wasn’t really needed here. She wouldn’t fit in.

Reaching the stairs, she started up them.

“Lottie, why do you look so tired?” Victor demanded, scowling at Liam. “Why aren’t you taking care of my sister?”

“Oh my God!” Lottie cried. “You’re all making it seem like I’m about to collapse and I haven’t even spoken to Jilly yet. Wait, where is Jilly?”

She froze, turning to find them all staring up at her.

Uh-oh.

That wasn’t intimidating at all.

Regent moved toward her, looking concerned. Great. She was making a complete mess of this.

“Um, I was just . . . I thought I would get . . . well, um, hi.” She waved lamely at them all.

Nico gave her a sympathetic look. Gracen and Thea smiled. While Aston waved back at her.

Regent held out his hand. “Jilly, come here.”

“Still don’t know how to say please, huh?” Liam said.

“Like you do.” Regent raised an eyebrow at the blond-haired man.

Liam simply grinned.

“Hello, Jilly,” Nico said, stepping forward and holding out his hand.

Regent brushed it aside before she could reach for it. “No touching.”

Nico sighed, shaking his head. “I’m engaged to your sister. And I can’t shake your girl’s hand?”

“No.”

“Jealous, isn’t he?” Liam murmured, stepping closer to her. “Good to see you, Jilly. Lottie has been nervous to meet you again. Put her at ease, yes?”

It was phrased as a question but sounded more like a command.

And Lottie was nervous? What did she have to be anxious about? But she nodded and managed to smile at Lottie. The other woman gave her a small smile back. However, there was something slightly reserved in her expression that made Jilly uneasy.

“Um, hi, Lottie. It’s nice to see you again,” she said.

“You too, Jilly.”

“Come on, darling. You need to sit down,” Regent told Lottie. “Let’s all go to the dining room.”

He reached for Jilly’s hand, tugging her along. She tried to hold herself back as they all sat at the table, but he shot her a firm look.

“Jilly, everything will be all right.”

Yeah, she wasn’t so sure.

Jilly followed the cry of pain, racing to see that Ace was lying on the floor, wearing a helmet, knee pads, and wrist guards. A fancy looking hoverboard lay off to the side of him, its lights flashing.

Oh no.

She could guess what happened. They’d finished Sunday lunch and moved to the garden to enjoy a drink in the sunshine. But she’d needed a moment away from everyone. From Lottie’s curious looks and Regent’s concern. That’s when she noticed Ace was missing.

Which is why she was inside, checking on him.

Not because she was having trouble keeping up this pretense of being sophisticated and elegant.

Nope, not at all.

“Ace! Are you all right?”

He sat up, tears glistening in his eyes.

“Did you hurt yourself?” she asked.

“No. I’m all right. Well, my butt kind of hurts. Do you think it will bruise?” Hope filled his face. “That would be awesome if it did.”

“Um, maybe?” she said.

“I can’t do it, Jilly.” His lower lip fell out in a sulk.

“Do what? Ride the hoverboard?”

“Yeah. I know I’m not supposed to ride it inside, but it doesn’t work as well outside.”

“Hmm. Could I have a go?” she asked. It looked like a lot of fun.

“I don’t know, Jilly. It’s sore on your butt when you fall off and, you know, you’re a girl.”

“I’m a girl, so I can’t do it?” she asked, feeling amused.

“Well, no, I know girls can do anything. It’s just, you might cry. And I’m not good with tears.”

“I promise that if I fall off, I won’t cry.”

“Are you sure? Because Uncle Reggie probably won’t be happy if you cry. I heard he’s kind of obsessed with you.”

Her heart soared with those words, but she squashed the feeling quickly.

Ace was a child. He didn’t even know what he was saying.

But it was still a nice thought.

“I’m not sure I’d say obsessed,” she said.

“That’s what Jardin said. He said he’s never seen Uncle Reggie like this with anyone and he’s real glad he met you. But also that Uncle Reggie should pull his head out of his ass and put a ring on your finger before you change your mind.”

She stared down at him in shock. “I have a feeling you weren’t supposed to be listening to that conversation.”

Ace just gave her a cheeky grin.

“Oh, Lord, you’re going to be trouble in a few years, aren’t you?”

“Thea says I’m trouble now. And that if I’m any more trouble, she’s shipping me off to a boarding school. But I know she wouldn’t really do that. She’d miss me too much.”

Oh, to be that confident and secure in who you were.

She wasn’t sure she’d ever had that growing up. Mama loved her. At least she’d had that. But it was hard to feel secure when your father could make decisions on a whim that would completely uproot your life.

If her father had told her that he was contemplating boarding school if she kept getting into trouble, she would never have gotten into trouble again.

She’d certainly never have ridden a hoverboard inside his house.

“Can I try?”

“Well, all right. Carrick said we always have to keep our promises.” He looked very skeptical that she would manage to keep hers.

“Carrick is right. And I will keep mine.”

“You don’t have a helmet, though. Safety first. And I don’t think mine will fit you. Cause you’ve got a big head.”

She had to bite her lip to hide her smile. She was glad that she didn’t have any hang-ups about the size of her head.

“I’ll be okay. How do I get on?” she asked.

“Well, I usually hold onto a piece of furniture or a wall or something. You got to step on quick. But maybe you should hold onto me. Okay?”

“All right.” She delicately placed her hand on his shoulder, hoping she wouldn’t crash into him.

“No, you’ve got to hold on tight, Jilly,” Ace chided. “I don’t want you to fall.”

“Got it.” She held onto his shoulder tighter and stepped quickly onto the hoverboard. It wobbled slightly, but overall, it was actually steadier than she’d thought it would be.

“All right, how do I make it move?”

“Lean forward to go forward. Back to go backward. And if you want to spin, one foot forward and one back. That’s where I got into trouble. I think I was spinning too much.”

“Got it.” She tentatively moved forward. She wasn’t brave enough for anything else yet. But then she decided to try and spin at the end of the hallway.

Ace moved along with her. “Hey! You’re really good at this, Jilly!”

“Thanks, Ace.”

She managed to spin around at the end of the hall without incident.

“Yay!” Ace cried out.

“I’m going to try going faster.” She found herself grinning as she sped down to the other end of the hall. After several goes, she could spin without worry, go backward, and race forward really fast.

“Woohoo! Go, Jilly!”

“Jilly? Fuck, Jilly, get off that thing!” Regent barked.

She glanced up, startled to see him rushing toward her. And her foot slid back, sending her spinning. Her arm swung out, hitting something which fell with a smash.

She screamed and fell back on her bottom.

“Jilly!” Regent yelled.

Ace jumped toward her. “Jilly! You okay? Remember, you promised not to cry.”

Right. She would not cry. Even though that really hurt her butt. Then she spotted the smashed vase on the floor.

Oh. God.